Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

INDIANAPOLIS — Until the Indianapolis Colts solidify their plans at quarterback in 2020, it will continue to be the story of the offseason.

However, the hyperfocus on the all-important position has taken the spotlight away from the Colts' other areas of need. With oodles of cap space and eight draft picks at his disposal, general manager Chris Ballard has the wherewithal to improve the Colts at other critical positions.

With the NFL world descending upon Indianapolis this week for the Scouting Combine, let's take a look at those non-quarterback positions where Ballard could invest some of his significant draft capital.

Defensive interior

“Every time I’ve been a part of this (style of defense), the 3-technique drives this. … We've got to be able to get some more interior pressure.”

If you’re a Colts fan who’s been paying attention since the end of a disappointing 7-9 season, you’re probably sick of reading that particular Ballard quote. And yet, it’s as close to a tell Ballard will let show in regards to his offseason plans. Even with Denico Autry under contract, the Colts need to find a way to dial up more interior pressure.

Auburn’s Derrick Brown is the clear No. 1 on the defensive interior heading into the draft, but the odds he’ll be around at No. 13 when the Colts are slated to pick appear slim. Next on most draftniks' boards is South Carolina senior Javon Kinlaw, an intriguing prospect on and off the field who dominated at the Senior Bowl. Ex-scout and NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently tabbed Kinlaw as the last of four elite defensive players available in the draft behind Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, Brown and Clemson’s do-it-all linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

“You could just go with a defensive tackle that has some real twitch and some upside that can rush," Jeremiah said. "I think they'll have some options there, when you look at guys like (Oklahoma’s) Neville Gallimore or somebody like that … would make some sense. I think Jordan Elliott is another name that could come in the mix from Missouri, another guy who can really rush inside.”

Tight end

With five tight ends under contract — Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox along with reserve/future players Ian Bunting, Xavier Grimble and Matt Lengel -- this isn't a exactly a glaring area of need for the Colts. However, only a handful of offenses value the tight end position as much Frank Reich's, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Ballard target an impact player to add to the depth chart. While there are intriguing options in free agency, highlighted by Atlanta’s Austin Hooper and Los Angeles’ Hunter Henry, the draft will also present Ballard with some compelling options.

The consensus appears to be that outside of maybe Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet, there is no tight end who will be drafted in the first round. That does not mean, though, that there isn’t plenty of talent at the position.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently predicted that seven tight ends will be drafted in the first three rounds. He named Purdue’s Brycen Hopkins as the best after Kmet, but also picked Washington’s Hunter Bryant, Vanderbilt’s Jared Pinkey, Dayton’s Adam Trautman, Missouri’s Albert Okwuegbunam and LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, to attract attention on Day 2 of the draft.

What the Colts will have to decide is, if they’re drafting a tight end, what kind do they want? Do they want someone who can slide into Eric Ebron’s role of field-stretcher and playmaker? Or do they want someone more in Doyle's mold — a sure-handed, do-it-all tight end who can help them in the pass and run games? Ideally, the Colts can find the tight end who could do both, but those are a rare breed.

The Colts need more playmakers. Not only because longtime star and top receiver T.Y. Hilton is now on the wrong side of 30 and coming off his most injury-plagued season to date, but because the Colts produced just 38 pass plays that gained 20 yards or more last year — tied for 31st in the NFL.

A driving force behind that low number was injuries to the top three receivers in Hilton, Devin Funchess and Parris Campbell, as well as Ebron. Still, even with Hilton and Campbell returning, the Colts could use another big-play receiver.

“Guys who can make plays on the ball or with the ball in their hands, it’s a constant search,” Ballard said in January.

Fortunately for Ballard, this draft class is loaded with receiver talent. In fact, there is supposedly so much high-end talent available that longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently made the bold prediction that at least 25 wide receivers will be taken in the first three rounds.

Jeremiah made a similar proclamation Saturday:

"The wide receiver group is as deep as I've seen. I've got 27 wide receivers with top 3-round grades in this draft. And consider an average of 31 are taken (in a full draft).So this is a really phenomenal group of wideouts. Not all those guys are going to go early. They'll end up spreading throughout the draft. But it's really a good group.”

Given the density of the talent in the class, there’s no telling whom the Colts might target. However, if they’re going after a receiver in round one, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Clemson’s Tee Higgins and LSU’s Justin Jefferson appear to be the cream of the crop.

Edge rusher

Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (99) closes in on Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey (12) for a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Penn State won 33-28. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)(Photo: Doug McSchooler, AP)

Justin Houston just turned in one of the best seasons of his career while Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu showed flashes of their potential last season, so do the Colts really need to add to their pass rush?

Yes. Always.

Ballard knows that a defense can never have too many productive pass-rushers — inside and out — and if he has the ability to add one to the Colts’ stable, he will jump at the chance.

As far as when Ballard might add an edge rusher, the first round doesn’t seem likely given that it isn’t the Colts’ biggest area of need. However, there are two players the Colts could consider at No. 13: LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson and Iowa’s AJ Epenesa. Chaisson seems to be rocketing up draft boards in recent weeks and his trajectory could see him picked in the top 10 if he shows out at the combine as many expect.

As for Epenesa, he seems to have split the scouting world a bit. While most see him as a first-round pick, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on where he’ll be drafted. Jeremiah suggests that it is Epenesa’s lack of explosiveness off the ball that have many questioning his ceiling.

“He's a skilled, skilled rusher,” Jeremiah said recently. “And you noted how well he played at the end of the season. I really didn't see bad tape on him. He just doesn't have — he's not real real explosive when you watch him coming off the edge. He's big and powerful. He has great hands. He can flip his hips and finish. He's got a variety of hand moves. The guy has a high floor. You're not going to miss on A.J. Epenesa. Now whether or not you're going to get a 14-sack guy or eight- or nine-sack guy, I think that's the debate.”

If Ballard goes a different direction in the first round, look for Wisconsin's Zack Baun, Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos, Utah’s Bradlee Anae and Alabama’s Terrell Lewis to be in play in the second round where the Colts have two picks (Nos. 34 and 44).

IndyStar covers the sports you love

Offensive line

July 25, 2019: Anthony Castonzo signs autographs for fans after the first day of Colts preseason training camp at Grand Park in Westfield.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

To hear Jim Irsay tell it, it's only a matter of time before Anthony Castonzo re-signs with the Colts. However, until the left tackle signs, the Colts need to explore what life would be like without him. For one, if he does decide to continue his NFL career, he is a free agent and therefore there is no guarantee he'll return to Indianapolis. Second, if retirement is on Castonzo’s mind this year, there’s reason to expect the thought could cross hismind over the next couple of years.

Third, the Colts have very little depth behind Castonzo or the rest of their stellar starting offensive line. Last year's reserve linemen — Le’Raven Clark, Josh Andrews and Joe Haeg — are all slated to hit free agency, meaning that only Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski and Braden Smith are set to return next season.

While Ballard might work to retain one or more of his backups from last season or dive into the free agent market, he is likely to try and supplement those additions with a draft pick or two. Fortunately for Ballard, 2020 appears to be relatively deep at tackle.

If Castonzo chooses not to return, the Colts are in position to select his replacement in the first round. Though they might have to move up to select one, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr., Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas all look to be top-15 picks. Jeremiah is huge fan of Becton.

“I know there's depth at the tackle class (but) to me, Mekhi Becton is a freak, from Louisville, an absolute freak." Jeremiah said. "He's a left tackle. He's a better version of Bryant McKinnie. He's going to be that guy for the next 10 to 12 years to protect your franchise quarterback. He's so big, so long, so athletic, even when he is not perfect, it doesn't matter because nobody can get through him. He's 6-7, 370 pounds. You just don't see guys like that come around very often.”

Houston’s Josh Jones could also be a first-rounder, while USC’s Austin Jackson, Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson, USC’s Matt Peart TCU’s Lucas Niang are options for them in the second and third rounds.